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Other Posts By: Martin Smith

New Report From President's Cancer Panel Includes Updates on Radon Exposure and More

Submitted by Martin Smith on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 1:49pm
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  • Topic: Radon and Environmental

The President’s cancer panel has just released their latest annual report to the president. It highlights environmental causes for cancer in our food, water, and air, and calls for action to reduce exposures. Nuclear medicine has been rapidly increasing in its contribution to the public’s annual radiation exposure. However, the top contributor to the general public’s annual radiation exposure is still from radioactive radon gas and it’s decay products.

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Warm Weather Radon Testing

Submitted by Martin Smith on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 2:32pm
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  • Topic: Hot Technical Topics

Throughout the warmth of springtime, the sizzling days of summer, and even the mild days of early Autumn, sticking to radon testing requirements for closed-house conditions can be a challenge. During these times of year, the urge for homeowners to open windows and doors is strong. But when testing for radon, doing so can completely derail your transaction time-line.

But fear not, we’ve got some tips that will be a breath of fresh air. Use the checklist below for successful radon testing during the warm weather months—and the rest of the year too!

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Bill Passed for Radon Resistant New Home Construction

Submitted by Martin Smith on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 10:24am
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  • Topic: Radon and Environmental

The Oregon House passed a bill Monday that requires all new buildings in the state be Radon resistant, Kristian Foden-Vencil of OPB News reported.

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What's Wrong with this Picture: Junction Dysfunction

Submitted by Martin Smith on Fri, 02/19/2010 - 11:15am
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  • Topic: What's Wrong With this Picture?

ANSWER: Junction Box Needed

Junction box? Who needs a box when you have electrical tape!?! This is what’s commonly referred to in electrical circles as a “rats nest”. There are a couple of problems with this, besides being unsafe and against accepted building codes.

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Radon - How Often Should You Test?

Submitted by Martin Smith on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 8:42am
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  • Topic: Radon and Environmental

As part of our "coverage" of National Radon Action Month, I thought we could take a look at a question that seems to be getting some discussion lately—How often should you test your home? A colleague of mine shared an interesting analogy with me that helps put frequent testing into proper perspective. She compared radon testing to medical checkups. You get your teeth checked twice a year. Women and men get their respective cancer screenings, usually annually. We don’t just do these one time and then say cool, I’m in the clear.

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Can Running the HVAC Fan Continuously Save on Energy Costs? Part 3 of 3

Submitted by Martin Smith on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 8:14am
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  • Topic: Home Maintenance and Safety

Part 3 – Environmental Concerns – Radon Gas

Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers. It’s a radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. It comes from the soil and is pulled into your home due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of the home. 

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Can Running the HVAC Fan Continuously Save on Energy Costs? Part 2 of 3

Submitted by Martin Smith on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 11:15am
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  • Topic: Home Maintenance and Safety

Part 2: Things to Consider

Some blower motors are designed for continuous use and some are not. So check to make sure you have one that is rated for continuous use. If it isn’t, and you still decide to run the blower continuously, budget for replacing the motor sooner than normal. And when you do, replace it with a fan that is designed for continuous use.

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What's wrong with this picture: Radon Vent

Submitted by Martin Smith on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 4:24pm
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  • Topic: Radon and Environmental
  • Topic: Tales From the Road
  • Topic: What's Wrong With this Picture?

Radon System Vent

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What's Wrong with this Picture: Icy A/C

Submitted by Martin Smith on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 8:22am
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  • Topic: Tales From the Road
  • Topic: What's Wrong With this Picture?

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New Radon Handbook, by the WHO?

Submitted by Martin Smith on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 3:56pm
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  • Topic: Radon and Environmental

The WHO will be releasing a new handbook on radon. No, not the rock band. The World Health Organization! The formal release is scheduled for September 21st this year and will be in the form of a free download from the WHO International Radon Project Website Book Shop.

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